The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-06-18
OUR CONSTITUTION.
gov = Wa DrHftsd and Rasinsd BY shs
States.


should be presented TO the Continental
Congress. and then referred 10 special
conventions in all the States for ratifi-
cation; and that when nine States, or
two-thrds of the whole number. should
have ratified, IL should ut once 90 into
operation as between such ratifying
States.
When the great document was 1t
last drafted by Gouverneur Morris.
and was all ready for the signatures, the
aged Franklin produced n paper, which
was read for him, rs his voice was
weak. Some parts of this Constitu-
ton, he said. he did not approve, but
he was astonished to find it so nearly
perfect. Whatever opinion he had OF
It's errors he would sacrifice 10 the pub
lie good. and he hoped that every
member of the convention who still
had objections would on this occasion
doubt little Of his own infallibility,
and for the sake of unanimity put his
name To this instrument Hamilton
added his plea. A few members. he
said, by refusing to sign. might do in
finite mischief. No mans ideas could
be more remote from the plan than his
were known 10 be; but was it possible
for true patriot To deliberate between
anarchy and convulsion, on the one
side, and the chance of good TO be ex-
pected from this plan, on the other?
From these appeals, as well as from
Washiggtons solemn warning at the
outset, we see how distinctly il was
realized that the country was on the
verge OF civil war. Most of the MEM
beers felt SO, but To some the new gov
eminent seemed far too strong. and
therewere three who dreaded despotism
even more than anarchy. Mason.
Randolph, and Gerry refused to sign.
! though Randolph sought 10 qualify his
refusal by explaining that he could not
yet make up his mind whether TO OPP
! pose or defend the Constitution, when
| IL should be laid before the people OF
Virginia. He wished TO reserve TO
himself full liberty of action in the
matter. That Mason and Gerry, valua-
BILE "a their services had been in the
making of the Constitution, would
now go home and vigorously oppose
IL, there was no doubt. OF the dele
gates who were present on the last
day of the convention, all but these
three signed the Constitution. In the
| signatures the twelve States which had
taken part in the work were all repre-
scented. Hamilton signing alone for
New York.
Thus after four months of anxious
toll, through the whole of a scorching
philadelphia summer, after earnest but
sometimes bitter discussion. in which
more than once the meeting had seemed
on the point of breaking up, n colossal
work had ut last been accomplished,
the results of which were most power
fully To affect the whole future career
of the human race SO long as IL shall
dwell upon the earth. In spite of the
high-wrought intensity of feeling which
had been now and then displayed,
grave decorum had ruled the proceed
ings; and now. though few were really
satisfied, the approach 20 unanimity
was remarkable. When all was over,
II Is said that many OF the members
seemed awe-struck. Washington sat
with his head bowed in solemn medita-
ton. The scene was ended by char
acteristic bit of homely pleasantly
from Franklin. Thirty-three years
ago. i'm the days of George H., before
the first mutterings of the Revolution
had been heard, and when the French
dominion in America was still nm
touched, before the Punishment OF the
Acadians or the route of Braddock,
while Washington was still surveying
lands in the wilderness, while Madison
was playing in the nursery and Hamii.
ton was not yet born, Franklin had
cndeavored TO bring together the thir'
teen colonies in n federal union. Oi
tho famous Albany plan OF 1904, Tn,
first outline of federal constitution
for America that ever was made, Ia
was the principal II not the sole au'
thor. When he signed his name 10 th'
; Declaration of independence in this
very room, his years had rounded the
full period OF threescore and ten
Eleven years more had passed. and he
had been spared TO see the noble ain
Of his life accomplished. There was
still, no doubt, a chance of failure. bu
: hope now reigned in the old mani
breast. On the back of the President
b quaint black arm chair there was EN-
0 blazoned half-sun, brilliant with IL
' gilded rays. As the meeting was
Z breaking up and Washington arose
. Franklin pointed TO the chair, ant
{ made IL the text for prophecy. 'As
Q have been sitting here all these weeks.
2 he said. 81 have often wondered wheth
: or yonder sun Is rising or setting. Blu
now know that IL is rising sum-
D John FiSkc in atlantic.
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I Shoes for Ladies' Wear.